Are You Stuck At Second Best?
Do What You Love Is Not A Cliché If It Works
I recently heard that more than 80% of people spend their life, or at least the majority of their life, doing what they are second-best at.
Stop and think about that for a moment.
Is that you?
Is there something you are just amazing at or totally love to do but were told to get a real job, focus on your education so you can have a profession that will pay to fall back on or some other such story?
What is the one thing you are amazing at?
For me, it’s writing.
Hands down.
I knew from early on it was a gift and when I’m in the zone or flow, it’s not me. It’s words that come through me and are placed just right on paper (or screen) to either easily explain or share a story with meaning.
When I write, time doesn’t matter. In the blink of an eye, hours can disappear and I can forget to eat, drink or even see people around me.
When I write, there are stolen moments in the early morning hours when it seems to me everyone is sound asleep and I’m just typing away, creating greatness.
And there are others when I can be surrounded by espresso machines, laughter and the cha-ching of a bookstore/coffeeshop cash register.
Yet, for those who know me, they probably think that teaching, coaching, mentoring is my calling...and it is. But it’s not my first calling.
My second-best thing is teaching.
Don’t get me wrong, I still love it.
I’m good at it.
I impact and make a difference and simply adore children, teens…people.
I feel like I’m here to help other people’s kids, one of the reasons I never had my own.
But if you told me to pick right now…
Well, I’d close my eyes and in the blink of an eye, say writing.
Wow, that’s a powerful exercise to try.
Do it now… simply close your eyes and ask yourself - what is your number one thing?
Your calling…
Your dharma.
And see what pops up. Don’t question it, just roll with it.
For me, writing is primary. It’s my number one thang...
...And here’s why.
With my words, I can teach. With my stories, I can share ideas. With my thoughts, I can create worlds and lessons and impart messages that readers young and old can take something from.
So in writing, I am still a teacher, mentor or coach. It’s the way I am whole, complete…fully me.
Now, I can share that another thing I happen to do, that brings in money, for which I am very grateful, is property management.
This started when my Fabulous Frenchman and I discovered each other. While I was, guess what?! Taking a break from teaching to go have a writing holiday on a tropical island.
But back to the third thing I do.
Property Management.
Ah, yeah. No. Not my calling by a long shot.
Can I do it? Yes.
Paperwork and leases, managing tenants and repairs and taking phone calls, overseeing maintenance needs, filing insurance docs and taxes while keeping the books straight…
Ah yeah, forehead meets hard wooden desk with a bang.
If that was ALL I did, oh boy, my middle name would be MISERABLE. And pronounced with l’accent!
[i.e. French accent]
I can do it, and well, but it costs me...
...it drains me.
Please don’t get me wrong. I am grateful I am in a place to do it, profit from it, enjoy a certain lifestyle from it, however, if it was my solo work existence...just no.
So, what about you?
Are you doing your second best as your primary, daily task… simply to pay the bills? Because you have a mortgage and kids...and hey, I get it.
But give this some thought.
Is what you get up and do each day something that fills you with joy or something that drains you extensively?
Leave a comment below and let me know.
Why does this matter?
What we do, our children see and oftentimes model.
Or we even encourage the “safe” path or that which we perceive as such…
But seriously, do you want your son or daughter to be stuck doing their second-best their entire life…?
Do you want to be stuck...in a job you despise, doing work that doesn’t fulfill you?
Or, instead, waking up with JOY and excitement most, if not every morning, and being in a state of flow because they...you… are doing what you are meant to do…?
Well, that’s heaven on earth, no?
And isn’t living your life your way the point...?
Photo Credit: Eutah Mizushima @eutahm
